Lionel Snap-On User manual

CAUTION—ELECTRIC TOY
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT YEARS
OF AGE. AS WITH ALL ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, PRECAU-
TIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED DURING HANDLING AND
USETO REDUCETHE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
TRANSFORMER RATINGS—INPUT:120VAC; 60 HZ ONLY.
AC OUTPUT:20V; 54VA
ready-to-run O-27 set
Owner’s Manual
73-1911-250
8/00

Congratulations!
2
You’re now the proud owner of the Snap- on ready-to-run O-27 train set.
Everything you need to get started is includ-
ed. You’re already off to a great start by
reading this instruction manual. It has
important information on train setup and
operation. This booklet also covers proper
maintenance procedures to help your Lionel
trains live long, healthy lives.
If you have any questions after reading
this booklet, contact your nearest Lionel
Authorized Service Center or call Lionel
Service at 810-949-4100. And have fun!
Table of contents
Track layout
Getting started 3
Suggested track layouts 3
Grade crossing 4
Joining the track sections 4
Attaching the lockon to the track 5
Controller operations
Stripping the wire 6
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon 7
Controller functions 8
Controller and short circuits 9
Train operation
Reverse unit procedure 10
Tire traction™ 11
Coupling 11
Maintaining and servicing your set
Replacing your 4-4-2’s headlamp 12
Lubricating your 4-4-2 locomotive 13
Adding smoke fluid to your 4-4-2’s smoke generator 14
Notes 15
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 16

3
Track layout
Now comes the fun part—deciding what
kind of layout you want. The only rule— let your imagination be your guide.
Suggested track layouts
Here are some examples of layouts you can build with track included with your train set.
Remember—the more track you own, the more variations you can create in your train layout.
And that means more action and more fun!
Before you do anything else, we recom- mend you check the contents of your set
box to ensure all of the parts of your set
have been included and that the quantities
(when applicable) are correct.
The parts list below will tell you what’s
included and the correct quantities. If you
find any discrepancies, contact the dealer
you purchased your set from for more
information or call 1-800-4-Lionel for a
Service Center near you.
• Lionel 4-4-2 locomotive 1
• Snap-on tender w/whistle 1
• Snap-on Boxcar 1
• Snap-on Flatcar 1
• Simulated Snap-on cargo load 1
• Snap-on Caboose 1
• Snap-on Tractor/trailer 1
• Controller 1
• 40-watt power pack 1
• Lockon 1
• Smoke fluid 1
• Straight track 8
• Curved track 8
• Service Center list 1
• Warranty Card 1
• Railroader Club Application 1
Getting Started

Join the track sections together by inserting
the pins of one track
section into the rail
openings of another. For
good electrical contact,
pins must be carefully
inserted and track joints
tightly fitted.
If the track is difficult to
connect, try this installa-
tion tip. You can “break
in” O-27 track sections by
inserting and withdrawing
a track pin into one rail at
a time before joining the
entire track section.
If the openings become too open (causing
the track to fit loosely), pinch
the rail together around a
track pin with a pair of pliers.
If any pins fall out of the
track and are missing, replace
them with extras available
from your Lionel dealer.
Maintenance tip: The rails
should be kept clean, dry, and
free from oil and grease.
Clean rust and dirt spots with
a track eraser. Wipe the track
using a cloth dampened with
track cleaner from the Lionel
maintenance kit (no. 6-
62927), available from your
nearest Lionel Authorized
Value Added Dealer or Lionel Service.
Joining the track sections
4
Grade crossing
Included in your set are two pieces of
grade crossing. These
can be used on any
straight section of
track and will allow
you to drive your
Lionel tractor-trailer as
well as other toy cars
and trucks over the
rails of your layout.
To install, simply place
the grade crossings
under a section of
straight track lining up
the rails with the grooves
in the crossing.
You may install two
crossings on the same
section of track or on
separate sections.
Track layout

Track layout
5
Attaching the lockon to the track
Hook lip to the
outside of the rail
1
2
1
LIONEL
CTC
LOCKON
Once the lockon is securely attached to
the track, it’s time to insert the wires from
the controller into the two spring clips on
the lockon. See page 6 and 7 for easy-to-fol-
low steps.
Snap spring contact
to the middle rail
2
The lockon connects power from your controller to the track. Attaching the
lockon to the track is quick and easy. First,
place the lockon under any straight section
of track. Fit the center lip of the lockon onto
the edge of an outside rail. Press the lockon
upward so that the spring contact snaps
onto the center rail. The lockon should face
outward when setting up your track and
make sure it is firmly connected. Use the
illustrations below as a step-by-step guide.

Controller operations
6
Stripping the wire
Once your track is assembled and the lockon is
securely attached,
you can connect
the wires from the
controller to the
lockon.
First you‘ll want to
check the ends of the
wires to make sure that the insulation is
stripped back about 1⁄4" to 3⁄8". To
strip the wires, use a pair
of wire strip-
pers or a
sharp knife.
Caution:
Only an adult
should perform
this task! Always use
care when stripping wires.

Controller operations
7
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon
Now you’ll need to insert a controller wire into each of the two spring clips
on the lockon.
It’s easy! Depress the spring clip with your
finger and insert the bare end of the wire
into the exposed opening. Release the
spring clip. Give the wire a little tug to
make sure it’s secure. Repeat these steps
with the other spring clip. Next, insert the
small plug end of the power pack into the
back of your controller, and plug the other
end into a standard outlet.
If the whistle fails to operate
when you press the whistle button
on your controller (see page 8),
remove the wires from the lockon
and reinsert each one into the
opposite clip to reverse polarity.
Plug this end
into back of
controller.
Note!
Plug power pack
into standard
wall outlet
Make sure that the
bare end of each wire
is securely attached to
the spring clip.

Controller operations
8
Controller functions
As you turn the throttle control knob to the right, power to the track is
increased. When the indicator reaches the
green band, there should be sufficient power
to operate the locomotive. The further into
the green area the knob is turned, the faster
your train will go. Remember that the
greater the load on the engine (adding
more cars for the engine to pull, for exam-
ple), the farther into the green the knob
must be turned before it will operate the
locomotive.
The yellow band indicates the average
power range that the train will be operating
in. The red band represents maximum
power output.
FULLFULL
SPEEDSPEED
OFFOFF
R
Press this button to produce
a realistic whistle sound.
Press this button to go forward or
reverse,or to place the locomotive in
“neutral”(no movement,headlight is on).
Turn the throttle control
knob to the right for more
power.
The LED indicator shows
when your controller is
On.
Green band
Yellow band
Red band
FULL
SPEED
OFF
Note! Slight reduction in speed
during whistle operation
is normal

Controller operations
9
Your Lionel power pack is listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and has
been carefully designed and tested to ensure
peak performance. The controller is
equipped with a built-in electronic circuit
breaker that alternately cuts off and restores
the flow of power to the track whenever a
short circuit exists—for example, when the
train derails. The circuit breaker’s action
continues until the cause of the short circuit
is eliminated. This circuit breaker is incor-
porated into the controller to protect it from
possible damage. It will not protect the loco-
motive or electrically operated accessories,
so it’s important to eliminate short circuits
as soon as possible.
The power pack must be
unplugged from the wall socket
when a short circuit is noticed,
and the short circuit must be cor-
rected.
A short circuit is caused by a direct con-
nection between the center rail and one of
the outside rails or by a direct connection
between bare wires. The axles of a derailed
car or locomotive are the most frequent
cause of short circuits, so make sure that all
wheels are properly set on the rails. Some
other causes of short circuits might be sta-
ples, nails, paper clips, or other metallic
objects lying across the rails, or two bare
wires touching each other.
If too many cars or accessories are used,
your controller will exceed its power limit
and begin to cycle on and off. To correct this
problem, cars or accessories must be
removed before normal operation can
resume. For more power, see the line of
Lionel high-output transformers at your
Authorized Lionel Value Added Dealer.
The same condition can occur if the power
is turned up too quickly. This also could
cause your train to move too fast and derail.
After your power pack has been operating
for a while, you will find it warm to the
touch. It is the nature of all electrical power
equipment to become warm when in use. If
your controller is loaded to capacity, it is a
good idea to let it cool down after an hour
or two of continuous use. Unplug the power
pack from the wall when the controller is
not in use.
Controller and short circuits
Note!

Train operation
10
Reverse unit procedure
The reverse unit inside your Lionel loco- motive is an electronic device that acts
like the transmission in your car. When you
apply power to the
track, the locomo-
tive moves in the
direction specified
by the reverse
unit—or it sits in
neutral, awaiting
another power
interruption.
Power interrup-
tions are the sig-
nal that tells the
reverse unit to
sequence to the
next operational state.
To interruptpower andsequencethe locomo-
tive’s reverseunit, pressthedirection controlbutton
orturn thethrottleto theOFF position andON
again.The reverseunitalternates betweenthree
states:forward, neutral,andreverse.
Also, the locomotive can be “locked” into
a single direction by throwing the switch
located on the underside of the frame (see
illustration above). When the switch is
thrown to the OFF position, the locomotive
will be locked in the next mode of operation
in the sequence. For instance, if the locomo-
tive is moving forward, then is stopped and
the switch is thrown back, the locomotive
will be “locked” in neutral. If the switch is
thrown back while the locomotive is under
power, the locomo-
tive will remain in
the mode it was in
when the switch
was thrown. The
controller direc-
tion control will
then have no effect
on the direction of
the locomotive.
Additionally, this
reverse unit has a
“power-up reset”
feature, which
means that should the locomotive sit with-
out power for more than one hour, the
reverse unit will automatically reset and
start in the forward direction when the
transformer is turned on or “powered up,”
regardless of the locking switch position. If
the locking switch is in the OFF position, the
locomotive will start in the forward direction
and be “locked” there.
Reverse unit on/off switch
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Direction control
button
Whistle control
button
Tender must be on the track for the
whistle to operate
Note!
ON OFF

11
Tire-Traction™
Coupling
Your locomotive is equipped with Tire- Traction™. This means that one of the
drive wheels is fitted with a rubber traction
tire to enhance tractive effort so your loco-
motive can pull many cars at once.
Lionel locomotives with Tire-Traction™
grip the track, enabling them to pull heavy
loads at higher speeds.
After you have assembled the track, place the locomotive and rolling stock on the
track. Before coupling the cars, make sure
the wheels are properly set on the rails.
When coupling your cars, at least one of
the mating couplers must be open as shown
below at the left. Now simply push the cars
toward each other until they lock together.
Now you’re ready to pull out of the sta-
tion. All aboard!
Keep in mind that it’s easier to couple cars on a straight stretch of track.
Push down the
lock release to
open the coupler.
Train operation
In order to get your Snap-on train completely ready for departure, you will need to
fold up the Snap-on simulated cargo load and place it between the bulkheads on
the flatcar.
Note!

Maintaining and servicing your set
12
Linkage
rods
Front truck
screws
Smoke unit
lug wire
Smoke unit
Lamp
Lionel part no.
600-0161-300
Your 4-4-2 locomotive lights the way with headlamp illumination. During
the course of normal operation, the lamp
may require replacement.
First remove the two front truck screws
and carefully slide the front truck assembly
off the linkage rods. Lift the smoke unit out
far enough from the cab to allow lamp
extraction. Pull the lamp straight out and
replace it with Lionel part no. 600-0161-
300, available from your nearest Lionel
Authorized Service Center or from Lionel
Service. Be careful not to twist the lamp or it
may break.
Now, reinstall the smoke unit, making
sure that the smoke stack lines up with the
cab top opening. Reassemble the front truck,
making sure that the linkage rods go into
the holes in the front truck. The lug wire
from the smoke unit must be reinserted
through the slot in the front truck assembly
and secured under one of the two front
screws. Tighten the screws firmly but do not
over tighten.
Replacing your 4-4-2 locomotive’s headlamp

Maintaining and servicing your set
13
Lubricating your 4-4-2 locomotive
Lubricate with
Lionel oil
sparingly
Help your 4-4-2 steam locomotive lead a long and productive life on your rail-
road by maintaining it properly.
We recommend you purchase a Lionel
Lubrication and Maintenance Kit (no. 6-
62927), available from your Lionel dealer.
Two basic rules to keep in mind: Never over-
lubricate (a small amount will do), and
avoid getting grease or oil on the 4-4-2’s
wheels, contact rollers, or your track.
You’ll know your 4-4-2 requires lubrica-
tion when visual inspection reveals dryness
on the parts indicated in the illustration.
Remove accumulated dirt and dust before
lubricating, and always lubricate any loco-
motive emerging from prolonged storage.
Lubricate axle ends with
Lionel oil
sparingly Lubricate gears with
Lionel grease
sparingly
Lubricate drive axles on both sides of locomotive (between
the wheels and the locomotive at the bushings)
Lionel oil sparingly

14
Adding smoke fluid to your 4-4-2’s smoke generator
Your 4-4-2 locomotive is equipped with a smoke generator that produces safe,
clean white smoke during operation.
The smoke generator requires the periodic
addition of Lionel smoke fluid in order to
function. Pierce the smoke fluid tube end
with a pin, then add 4 to 8 drops of fluid
directly into the locomotive’s stack. Smoke
production commences momentarily, faster if
you run your locomotive at high speed. When
smoke production wanes, add more fluid (4
to 8 drops). An idle locomotive will not
smoke.
NOTE: Always keep a small amount of
smoke fluid in the locomotive’s smoke gener-
ator; the generator’s element can become
damaged if operated without smoke fluid.
This is particularly true if your locomotive
sits in neutral for an extended period of time
without smoke fluid in the generator.
Smoke production is greater at higher volt-
ages and when the locomotive is pulling a
heavy load or a long consist.
Maintaining and servicing your set
Do not leave your locomotive on the track in neutral with the throttle turned up.
This will cause serious damage to the smoke generator.
Note!

NOTES:
15

Limited Warranty/Lionel Service
This Lionel product, including all
mechanical and electrical components,
moving parts, motors and structural
components, except for light bulbs, is warranted to
the original consumer-purchaser, for one year
against original defects in materials or
workmanship when purchased through an
authorized Lionel dealer.
This warranty does NOT cover normal wear
and tear, light bulbs, defects appearing in the
course of commercial use, or damage resulting
from abuse or misuse of the product by the
purchaser. Transfer of this product by the original
consumer-purchaser to another person voids this
warranty. Modification of this product voids this
warranty.
Any warranted product which is defective in
original materials or workmanship and is delivered
by the original consumer-purchaser to Lionel
L.L.C. or an authorized Lionel L.L.C. Service
Station, together with proof of original purchase
will, at the option of Lionel L.L.C., be repaired or
replaced, without charge for parts or labor. In the
event the defective product cannot be repaired, and
a replacement is not available, a refund of the
original purchase price will be granted. Any
products on which warranty service is sought must
be sent freight or postage prepaid, as
transportation and shipping charges are not
covered by the warranty.
In no event shall Lionel L.L.C. be
liable for incidental or
consequential damages.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or
limitation of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above exclusion may not apply to
you.This limited warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may have other rights which vary
from state to state.
Instructions for Obtaining Service
If service for this Lionel L.L.C. product is
required, bring the item, along with your dated
sales receipt and completed warranty information
to the nearest Authorized Lionel Service Station.
Your nearest Lionel Service Station can be found
by calling 1-800-4-Lionel, or by accessing our
Website at www.lionel.com.
If you prefer to send your product back to
Lionel L.L.C. for factory repair, you must first call
810-949-4100 or FAX [phone], or write to
Customer Service, P.O. Box 748, New Baltimore,
MI 48047-0748, stating what the item is, when it
was purchased and what seems to be the problem.
You will be sent a return authorization letter and
label to ensure your merchandise will be properly
handled upon receipt.
Once you have received your return
authorization and label, make sure that the item
is packed to prevent damage during shipping and
handling. We suggest that you use the product’s
original packaging. This shipment must be
prepaid and we recommend that it be insured.
Please make sure you have followed all of the
above instructions carefully before returning any
merchandise for service.
Warranty Information
Please complete the information below and
keep it, along with your dated sales receipt. You
must present this and your dated sales receipt
when requesting warranty service.
Name ____________________________
Address____________________________
Place of Purchase ____________________
Date of Purchase ____________________
Product Number______________________
Product Description____________________
_________________________________
©2000 LIONEL LLC, CHESTERFIELD MI 48051-1956
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA